Facebook, Sophos partner to protect users against malware

2 May 2012

IT security and data protection company, Sophos, has announced a partnership with Facebook to help protect users from links that lead to malware or malicious sites. Facebook will use the website reputation service provided by SophosLabs, Sophos' global network of research centres, along with their own security measures to help assess whether a largely distributed link is malicious.

Facebook, Sophos partner to protect users against malware

When Facebook users click a link, Facebook consults its database of malicious URLs to check the status of the link. SophosLabs will be feeding malicious URL intelligence into this database and Facebook will inform Facebook users if the link they clicked on is malicious. Users will then be sent to a page that offers the choice to continue at their own risk, return to the previous screen, or obtain more information on why the link was flagged as suspicious.

All areas of security are covered

Mac users will also be given the option to download the free Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition from the Sophos Facebook page as part of the Facebook AV Marketplace. "We are pleased to begin partnering with Sophos to better protect our users both on and off of Facebook," says Joe Sullivan, chief of security at Facebook. "We believe incorporating Sophos' industry-leading computer security intelligence and expertise, will help us provide even more security to those using Facebook."

SophosLabs is a global network of highly skilled and thoroughly trained analysts renowned for protecting businesses from known and emerging threats, rapidly and immediately. SophosLabs's expertise covers every area of network security - viruses, spyware, adware, intrusion, spam and malicious web pages. Innovative technologies such as behavioral genotype protection and rapid signature updates are combined to stop new and unknown malware.

"Facebook has become the default forum for sharing and consuming opinions, news and personal content for millions of people. Because content is typically posted by a trusted source, many users incorrectly assume links are safe. Scammers often take advantage of this to fool users into clicking on malicious links," says Brett Myroff, CEO of Sophos distributor, NetXactics.